Comfort Zone

Here Are Some Tips For Making The Home A Comfortable Haven From The Outside World.

November 17, 2001|By Charlyne Varkonyi Schaub, Florida Correspondent

FORT LAUDERDALE -- In the past few years, we broke out of our cocoons that we had retreated into during the last wave of uncertainty fueled by job buyouts, layoffs and crime.

The stock market boomed and we spread our wings, traveling to places we never dreamed we could, buying bigger houses in better neighborhoods than we ever thought we could afford and driving cars that had fancy options such as leather, sunroofs and special map tracking devices.

But, the retreat that began with the collapse of the stock market accelerated with the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Now the "cocooning" that trend maven Faith Popcorn described has become reality once again. Sure, we know we should go out and spend money to prop up the economy, and many of us are starting to do so. But we are also appreciating that sometimes what we really need is to hunker down in our home bunkers.

Kim Shaver, brand manager for Hooker furniture and former consumer editor for Furniture/Today, says the two things people want most post-Sept. 11 is to escape and connect.

"No. 1, they want to escape because the reality is so harsh. They want to wake up from this terrible dream. At the same time, they don't want to escape alone. They want to heighten their sense of intimacy with their family close to them."

Shaver says the right furnishings can bring family together in that home cocoon so they can shut out the harsh reality of war and de-stress together. Creating a comfortable cocoon may start with furnishings, but we also need to connect with other comfort zones. So how do you begin to make your home a place that makes you feel safe and secure in a world that seems neither right now?

Here are 10 ways to make your home more comfortable physically and psychologically:

1. Turn one room into a "super cocoon."

Ask yourself which room in your home has the potential to make you feel warm, safe and secure. Chances are good the room you prefer is a smaller space, such as a den. Security comes from the little things that make you feel buffered from the outside world. Here are some of them: a wall of books, large club chairs with ottomans, dark wood furniture and window treatments that can darken the room, down-filled throw pillows and a soft (cashmere, Polarfleece or soft wool) blanket you can snuggle under.

2. Dim the lights.

Bright light should be left to department stores. Install dimmers on every light switch, even those in hallways and the kitchen. Select lampshades lined with soft yellow or gold to cast a gentle light. Use frosted light bulbs. Use plug-in dimmer switches for table lamps.

Learn how to make good use of candles, whose warm glow reminds us of simpler times and makes us concentrate on each other rather than the objects around us. A good guide for do-it-yourselfers is Illuminations: Living by Candlelight by Wally Arnold (Chronicle Books, $19.95).

3. Create a scent-sation.

More than just New Age followers have found that aromatherapy can have therapeutic value. You can put a few drops of essential oils in your bath water and burn a scented candle to help you relax. Lavender and chamomile scents are often used as stress reducers.

4. Plant an old-fashioned "Victory Garden."

For many of us, the World War II Victory Garden is a concept we read about in history books or heard older relatives discuss. Back then, folks were serious, with nearly 20 million Americans planting vegetable gardens that supplied 40 percent of the food consumed.

We don't know how long this war will last or what we will be asked to give up to sustain the war effort, but a modern version of the Victory Garden is starting to sound like a good idea. Floridians can start planting now.

5. Cook comfort food.

Remember the smell of an old-fashioned beef stew or homemade pasta sauce simmering on the stove when you were a child? When was the last time you had that same experience in your kitchen?

We know you're really busy during the week, but most of us can make time on weekends to prepare the kind of foods that nourish your soul. Just thinking about the smell of homemade comfort foods -- meatloaf and mashed potatoes, roast beef, au gratin potatoes, cakes and pies baked from scratch -- can make you feel better.

Get the kids to help and make cooking the meal a fun family project. Invite neighbors for an informal get-together.

"It's an ideal time to bring back the ritual of cooking together," says Colin Cowie, lifestyle authority, author, TV host and InStyle contributing editor. Friends can join you in the kitchen while you are preparing the meal. Cowie suggests having them help you set a beautiful table with good china and silver. Bake a warm loaf of bread. Make a fagioli soup, old-fashioned spaghetti Bolognese or bake a meatloaf. For dessert, have everyone make their own sundaes.